# Accident 20201002012259A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402, Egypt, AR, October 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2020, 10:30 local time
- Place: Egypt, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: I0TG
- Location: 35.9360° N, 90.9278° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9360&lon=-90.9278&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4540F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4540F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402 (registry code 0390205, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 550 in this make and model, 484 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201002012259A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON OCTOBER 2, 2020 AN AIR TRACTOR AT-402, N4540F, WAS CONDUCTING SPRAYING OPERATIONS IN THE AREA OF EGYPT, AR. WHILE EDGING A RICE FIELD WITH DEFOL 5 THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE BRANCH OVERHANG. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE OVERHANG ON THE RIGHT WING ABOUT 3/4 DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE WING. THIS CAUSED BUCKLING OF THE LEADING EDGE AND REMOVED THE RIGHT WING TIP.

THE AIRMAN HEARD AND FELT THE IMPACT AND NOTICED THE DAMAGE AS HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP INTO A CLIMB. THE AIRMAN'S FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO BASE IN CASH, AR. HOWEVER, THE AIRMAN FELT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUALLY WANTING TO ROLL AND YAW TO THE RIGHT DUE TO THE DAMAGED WING. DUE TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO CONDUCT AN OFF FIELD LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD APPROXMENTLY 1NM TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE STRIKE LOCATION.

DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN STOPPAGE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH FORWARD ONTO THE NOSE AND COME BACK DOWN ON THE LEFT WING WRINKLING THE LAST 1/4 OF THE WING. THE AIRCRAFT ALSO HAD ENGINE MOUNT AND FIREWALL DAMAGE CAUSE BY THE NOSE UP DURING LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN21LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA005), Oct 2, 2020: Air Tractor AT402 (N4540F), Egypt, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree limb during a low-level aerial application flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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